Focuh vs BlockSite: 2026 Comparison
Focuh vs BlockSite compared — the difference between a genuinely free Chrome blocker and a freemium one that caps you at 3 sites and wants an account.
Focuh vs BlockSite at a glance
Focuh and BlockSite are both website blockers you install from the Chrome Web Store, but they answer the word "free" very differently. Focuh is free with no account, no telemetry, and no cap on how many sites you block. BlockSite has a free tier that stops at 3 blocked sites, requires an account, and pushes you toward a paid plan for anything more. If your blocklist is short and you don't mind signing up, BlockSite works fine. If you want to block a real list of distractions without an upsell, Focuh is the cleaner fit.
This comparison walks through where each one wins, with no pretending that a browser extension does something it can't.
What is BlockSite?
BlockSite is one of the most-installed website blockers in the world, with millions of Chrome Web Store users and a polished interface. It blocks sites you add to a list, offers a focus mode, and sells scheduling, password protection, and syncing on a paid plan. It also ships mobile apps separately from the extension.
Its reputation cuts two ways. The product is well-designed and easy to use. But the free tier is aggressively limited — 3 sites and an account requirement — which is why so many people search for an alternative once they hit the wall.
What is Focuh?
Focuh is a free Chrome extension that blocks distracting websites during a self-imposed focus challenge of any length — 30, 91, or 180 days, or a custom number. It has no account, no signup, no telemetry, no ads, and no cap on blocked sites. Your blocklist and the daily attempt counter live locally in Chrome storage and never leave your device.
Focuh is built by the team behind the free Focuh Mac app, and the two are designed to work together: the extension handles browser tabs, the desktop app handles system-wide blocking when you need it stricter.
How does the free tier compare?
This is the heart of the comparison. BlockSite's free tier is a trial in disguise — it caps blocked sites at 3 and requires an account before you can do anything. Focuh's free tier is the whole product, with no cap and no signup. There is no paid Focuh tier to upgrade to, so there's nothing held back.
| Feature | Focuh | BlockSite |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely free | Yes | Free tier only (trial-like) |
| Site limit (free) | Unlimited | 3 sites |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Telemetry | None | Yes |
| Long challenges (30–180 days) | Yes | Schedules, paid for more |
| Password protection | No | Paid |
| Blocks other browsers / apps | No (extension) | No (extension) |
| Free desktop app for OS-level blocking | Yes (macOS) | No |
| Price | Free | Free tier / paid plan |
The single column that decides most choices is the site limit. A blocker that caps you at 3 sites isn't a free blocker — it's a paid blocker with a 3-site demo. If you only need to block YouTube and Reddit, fine. If you want X, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, and Hacker News gone, you'll hit BlockSite's cap before lunch.
What can each one actually block?
Both are Chrome extensions, so both block Chrome and only Chrome. Neither can block a native app or another browser from inside the extension — that's a limit of the whole category, not a knock on either tool. If you switch to Safari or open a desktop app the moment Chrome blocks you, an extension alone won't help. For the full breakdown of where browser blocks win and lose, see system-level vs browser blocking.
Where Focuh pulls ahead is the second layer. BlockSite sells separate mobile apps but has no system-level desktop blocker. Focuh pairs its extension with a free macOS app that uses Accessibility APIs to block across every browser and native app during a focus session — and it's harder to disable mid-session because it doesn't live in chrome://extensions.
Which is better for privacy?
Focuh, by a clear margin. It needs no account and collects no telemetry; your blocklist stays in local Chrome storage. BlockSite requires an account to use the extension, which ties your blocking activity to a profile on their servers. Neither approach is unusual for the category, but if you'd rather your "I keep trying to open Instagram" data never leave your laptop, the no-account model matters. For more on genuinely free, no-account options, see the best free website blocker for Chrome guide.
When should you choose BlockSite over Focuh?
Choose BlockSite if:
- You only ever need to block around 3 sites
- You want password protection or detailed scheduling and don't mind paying
- You want one brand across extension and dedicated mobile apps
- You're already invested in its interface and the cap doesn't bother you
Choose Focuh if:
- You want to block more than 3 sites without paying
- You'd rather not create an account or be tracked
- You want long, self-imposed challenges of weeks or months
- You're on a Mac and want a free desktop app for system-level blocking too
The bottom line
BlockSite is a polished, popular blocker, and its free tier is genuinely useful if your list is short. But "free" with a 3-site cap and a required account is closer to a trial than a free product. Focuh gives you unlimited sites, no account, and no telemetry at no cost, plus a free Mac app when a browser block isn't strict enough.
If BlockSite's limits are what brought you here, the free BlockSite alternative breakdown goes deeper on the specifics. Either way, you can install Focuh and run it next to BlockSite for free to see which model you actually keep using. Install Focuh free, or get the free Mac app if you need to block more than just Chrome.